Electrical connector with retainer means

ABSTRACT

An electrical connector for terminating an electric cable, and an insulating sleeve therefor, said sleeve containing a central bore for receiving a male or female connector therein, and means securing said male or female connector against axial movement and rotation within said bore, said means comprising an insulated elongated member having major and minor body portions, wherein said minor portion engages said male or female connector and said major portion engages said sleeve in a manner to provide a seal against intrusion by moisture for said engaged connector.

United States Patent [1 1 Newman et al.

[ Jan. 8, 1974 1 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH RETAINER MEANS [75]Inventors: Albert P. Newman; Clem Edward Haun, both of Cincinnati, Ohio[73] Assignee: Empire Products, Inc., Cincinnati,

Ohio

[22] Filed: Mar. 27, 1972 [21] Appl. N0.: 238,174

[52] US. Cl 339/219 R 51 t. c: I-l0lr 9/16 [58] Field of Search..339/5963, 75, 219, 272

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,544,952 12/1970 Piaget339/272 A 2,707,774 5/1955 Keller 339/272 A 2,911,616 11/1959 Townsend.339/272 R 2,917,724 12/1959 Jackson 339/272 R FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 1,181,819 6/1959 France 339/75 M 105,597 10/1966 Denmark339/272 R Primary Examiner.loseph I-l. McGlynn Attorney-John W. Melvilleet al.

[ 5 7] ABSTRACT An electrical connector for terminating an electriccable, and an insulating sleeve therefor, said sleeve containing acentral bore for receiving a male or female connector therein, and meanssecuring said male or female connector against axial movement androtation within said bore, said means comprising an insulated elongatedmember having major and minor body portions, wherein said minor portionengages said male or female connector and said major portionengages saidsleeve in a manner to provide a seal against intrusion by moisture forsaid engaged connector.

11 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENFED 3.784.964

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH-I RETAINER MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to electrical connectors, and more particularlyto electrical connector means which may be affixed to the ends ofelectrical cables so that releasable interconnection between lengths ofcable may be made.

The electrical connector art as reflected in the patent literature hasprogressed from the provision of reliable, releasable, interengageableconnector elements as shown, for example, in US. Pat. No. 2,477,818 toMurdock, and now contemplates the use of preformed insulating sleeveswhich may, together with the connector element, be assembled onto theend of an electrical cable as may be seen, for example, in US Pat. No.3,143,384 to R. Senior, Jr. Through the use of the teachings of suchprior art, repair or replacement, or a new installation, may be made inthe field by those enterprises which find it necessary or desirable tohave means for releasably interengaging separate lengths of electricalcable. Among others, such enterprises include those where welding iscarried out, particularly where the actual welding is likely to occur ata distance remote from the power source for the welding equipment suchas may be the case in shipyards.

The present invention relates to an improvement in structure and methodof assembling an electrical connector element and a preformed insulatingsleeve therefor onto the end of an electrical cable. In making suchassemblies, it is necessary to see to it that there is a secureattachment between electrical cable and connector element. Beyond this,it is necessary also to make provision that the insulating sleeve, whichis part of the assembly and provides protection against exposure topossibly harmful electrical contact by users of the equipment, beretained in place about the connector element, as well as about thejuncture between connector element and conductive strands of electricalcable, so that adequate protection of user and electrical cable line areboth provided.

Electrical connectors of the present invention are applicable to thesingle cable types, or to the two-pole connectors. In the former,interengagement and locking of the connector assembly is achieved bymating the male and female members and mutually rotating same. In thelatter, such as described in co-pending application, Ser. No. 29,873, byAlbert Newman, where mutual rotation is not possible, other means forlocking are provided. However, with each connector, it is necessary tosecurely fix the contained connector within the surrounding insulatingsleeve.

The present invention provides a simple, yet effective, means forsecuring the connector within the sleeve, so that full and completeengagement of the male and female connectors may be effected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an electricalconnector assembly having a novel insulating sleeve construction wherebyit may be united with an electrical connector element in a uniquemanner. The unity thereof is effected by an elongated member passingthrough said sleeve and engaging with said connector. Said member ischaracterized by first and second body portions wherein one of saidportions engages the connector. The other portion engages said sleeveand is characterized by an annular rib which seats in a complimentarygroove within the hole receiving said elongated member. This interactionof the said member and sleeve helps to hold the said member therein,thus preventing movement of the engaged connector, and protects againstthe intrusion of moisture into the connector.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top view, with a portionremoved, to reveal a typical two-pole male electrical connectorconstructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1, except thatonly the insulating sleeve thereof is shown.

FIG. 3 is a complete sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of an elongated member used in securingthe connector member within the sleeve.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the elongated member shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present inventionrelates to an insulated electrical connector for terminating an electriccable. The workers skilled in the art are familar with the fact thatmale and female connectors are used, and by their interengagement toform an electrical connector or assembly, electrical connection betweenotherwise separate lengths of electric cable may be made. However. withthis understanding and the fact that the present invention is utilizedsimilarily for both male and female electrical connectors, only a maleconnector has been shown. Further, while the illustrated FIGURES depicta two-pole connector, it should be understood that the present inventionis also applicable to single pole connectors, and to other types notillustrated.

The two-pole male electrical connector of FIG. 1 comprises a housing orinsulating sleeve 10, which has been provided with a relatively uniformbore 12 throughout to receive the electrical connector 14. The typicalmale connector 14, illustrated in detail in FIG. 3, comprises a splitportion 16 for interengagement with a female connector, a cablereceiving sleeve portion 18, and a shank portion 20, through whichconnection is made to the insulating sleeve 10. The shank portion 20 hasthe largest diameter of the electrical connector 14, and is so sized tobe in sliding engagement with the bore 12.

The insulating sleeve 10 is generally formed of a resilient material,such as neoprene, but a more rigid insulating material may be used. Thebore 12 which passes therethrough includes a collar 22 molded into theinterior of such insulating sleeve 10 so that the collar 22 encirclesthe bore 12. The collar 22 is preferably made of metal, such asaluminum, and is molded into the sleeve 10 at such a position that whenthe connector 12 is assembled therein it lies contiguous with the shankportion 20 thereof. By means to be described presently, the electricalconnector 14 is securely held in this protective relationship to saidsleeve 10.

This is effected by securing the connector 14 with an insulatedelongated fastener member 24 passing through sleeve and collar 22.Enlarged side and top views of the said member are illustrated in FIGS.4 and 5, respectively. The said member 24 is insulated on at least theexposed portion so as to prevent shock hazard to an operator of theelectrical connector.

Considering further the fastener member 24, it will be seen that itcomprises body portion 26, having an annular rib 28 thereabout, andreduced end portion 30. The end portion 30 may be threaded as shown tomate with threaded hole 32 in the shank portion 20, or it may be smoothsurfaced to be received in a complimentary hole in said shank portion.In either case, relative rotation and axial movement between theconnector 14 and sleeve 10 is prevented.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, an intermediate body portion 34 hasbeen illustrated. To give added rigidity to the assembly, the diameterof said intermediate portion 34 should be such as to fit securely in thehole 36 provided in collar 22. In other words, this fixes the member 24in relation to the more rigid metallic collar 22.

The sleeve 10 is provided with a complimentary configured hole 38,aligned with hole 36, to receive the member 24. An annular groove 40 isprovided midway to receive the rib 28 when the fastener member 24 isfully received in hole 38. This seating arrangement, i.e., rib 28 ingroove 40, helps to provide a seal against the intrusion of moisture tothe said connector 14.

Additionally, the opening of 38 is slightly restricted by the inclusionof annular rib 42. Since the rib 42 is flexible in the manner of thesleeve 10, it will not prevent the insertion of the member 24 into hole38; however, it prevents the premature withdrawal therefrom. In otherwords, some positive action on the member 24 is required to dismemberthe electrical connector from the sleeve. In the situation asillustrated, slot 44 may be provided in the body portion 26 to insert atool, such as a screwdriver, to effect rotation of the member 24.

While the foregoing represents the preferred embodiment of thisinvention, it is believed that changes and modifications may be madetherein, particularly by one skilled in the art. Accordingly, nolimitation is intended to be imposed thereon, except as set forth in theappended claims.

We claim:

I. An electrical connector comprising connector means adapted forinterengagement with a mating connector means, a preformed insulatinghousing having a passageway therethrough, said connector means beingdisposed within said passageway, one-piece removable securing means forfixing said connector means in relation to said insulating housingagainst axial and rotational movement, said housing having a wallportion with a hole therethrough, one end of said hole communicatingwith the exterior of said housing, the other end of said holecommunicating with said passage, said hole having an annular groove at aposition between its ends, said connector means having a hole extendingthereinto and in coaxial alignment with said hole in said housing wallportion, said securing means comprising an elongated member having firstand second portions, said second portion having an annular ribthereabout,

said securing means being insertable in said housing wall portion holeto a position wherein said first portion of said securing means is justnicely received within said hole in said connector means and said secondportion of said securing means is just nicely received in said hole insaid housing wall portion with said annular rib engaged in said annulargroove.

2. The structure claimed in claim 1 including a collar affixed to saidhousing within said passageway and encircling said passageway, saidconnecting means extending through said collar, said collar having aperforation in coaxial alignment with said hole in said housing wallportion and said hole in said connector means, said securing meanspassing through said perforation in said collar.

3. The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said hole in said connectormeans is internally threaded, said first portion of said securing meansbeing of circular cross section and externally threaded, said firstportion of said securing means being threadedly engaged in saidconnector means hole.

4. The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing is made ofresilient material, said end of said hole in said wall portion thereofwhich communicates with the exterior of said housing being provided withan annular rim projecting toward the axis of said last mentioned hole,said rim overlying the free end of said second portion of said securingmeans.

5. The structure claimed in claim 1 including means on the free end ofsaid second portion of said securing means for engagement thereof by anappropriate tool for the installation and removal of said securingmeans.

6. The structure claimed in claim 2 wherein said hole in said connectormeans is internally threaded, said first portion of said securing meansbeing of circular cross section and externally threaded, said firstportion of said securing means being threadedly engaged in saidconnector means hole.

7. The structure claimed in claim 6 wherein said second portion of saidsecuring means is of circular cross section, said first portion of saidsecuring means being of lesser diameter than said second portion.

8. The structure claim in claim 6 wherein said housing is made ofresilient material, said end of said hole in said wall portion thereofwhich communicates with the exterior of said housing being provided withan annular rim projecting toward the axis of said last mentioned hole,said rim overlying the free end of said second portion of said securingmeans.

9. The structure claimed in claim 7 wherein said securing means has anintermediate portion of circular cross section between said first andsecond portions, said intermediate portion having a diameter greaterthan that of said first portion and less than that of said secondportion, said intermediate portion extending through said perforation insaid collar.

10. The structure claimed in claim 8 including means on the free end ofsaid second portion of said securing means for engagement thereof by anappropriate tool for the installation and removal of said securingmeans.

11. The electrical connector claimed in claim 2 wherein said collar ismetallic.

1. An electrical connector comprising connector means adapted forinterengagement with a mating connector means, a preformed insulatinghousing having a passageway therethrough, said connector means beingdisposed within said passageway, one-piece removable securing means forfixing said connector means in relation to said insulating housingagainst axial and rotational movement, said housing having a wallportion with a hole therethrough, one end of said hole communicatingwith the exterior of said housing, the other end of said holecommunicating with said passage, said hole having an annular groove at aposition between its ends, said connector means having a hole extendingthereinto and in coaxial alignment with said hole in said housing wallportion, said securing means comprising an elongated member having firstand second portions, said second portion having an annular ribthereabout, said securing means being insertable in said housing wallportion hole to a position wherein said first portion of said securingmeans is just nicely received within said hole in said connector meansand said second portion of said securing means is just nicely receivedin said hole in said housing wall portion with said annular rib engagedin said annular groove.
 2. The structure claimed in claim 1 including acollar affixed to said housing within said passageway and encirclingsaid passageway, said connecting means extending through said collar,said collar having a perforation in coaxial alignment with said hole insaid housing wall portion and said hole in said connector means, saidsecuring means passing through said perforation in said collar.
 3. Thestructure claimed in claim 1 wherein said hole in said connector meansis internally threaded, said first portion of said securing means beingof circular cross section and externally threaded, said first portion ofsaid securing means being threadedly engaged in said connector meanshole.
 4. The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing is madeof resilient material, said end of said hole in said wall portionthereof which communicates with the exterIor of said housing beingprovided with an annular rim projecting toward the axis of said lastmentioned hole, said rim overlying the free end of said second portionof said securing means.
 5. The structure claimed in claim 1 includingmeans on the free end of said second portion of said securing means forengagement thereof by an appropriate tool for the installation andremoval of said securing means.
 6. The structure claimed in claim 2wherein said hole in said connector means is internally threaded, saidfirst portion of said securing means being of circular cross section andexternally threaded, said first portion of said securing means beingthreadedly engaged in said connector means hole.
 7. The structureclaimed in claim 6 wherein said second portion of said securing means isof circular cross section, said first portion of said securing meansbeing of lesser diameter than said second portion.
 8. The structureclaim in claim 6 wherein said housing is made of resilient material,said end of said hole in said wall portion thereof which communicateswith the exterior of said housing being provided with an annular rimprojecting toward the axis of said last mentioned hole, said rimoverlying the free end of said second portion of said securing means. 9.The structure claimed in claim 7 wherein said securing means has anintermediate portion of circular cross section between said first andsecond portions, said intermediate portion having a diameter greaterthan that of said first portion and less than that of said secondportion, said intermediate portion extending through said perforation insaid collar.
 10. The structure claimed in claim 8 including means on thefree end of said second portion of said securing means for engagementthereof by an appropriate tool for the installation and removal of saidsecuring means.
 11. The electrical connector claimed in claim 2 whereinsaid collar is metallic.